Mail-delivery apparatus



A. C. COBB.

MAIL DELI-VERY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 16, 1919.

Patented Jan. 25, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

A. C COBBx MAIL DELIVERY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 05c. 16. 1919.

Patented Jan. 25, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Amaze. 002$,

UNITED ALBERT C. COBB, 0F HOUSTON, TEXAS.

MAIL-DELIVERY APPARATUS.

Application filed December 16, 1919. Serial No. 345,265.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT C. COBB, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Houston in the county of Harris, and

State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mail-Delivery Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The object in view is to provide a simple and eflicient means for facilitating the distribution and classification of mail matten directed to different destinations or destined to be handled by different carriers, under such conditions as to economize time and increase the accuracy with which such operations can be conducted in the rapid handling of mail matter, and to this end the in vention consists in a construction and combination of parts of which a preferred embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, it being understood that changes in form and proportion may be resorted to within the scope of the claims without departing from the principles involved.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a front view of an apparatus embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view of one of the letter racks on the plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a similar view of the registered letter rack, the section being taken on the plane indicated by the line 4.-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a detail horizontal section of one end of one of the racks on the plane indicated by the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the apparatus.

Upon a suitable frame 10 consisting essentially of uprights constituting guides or tracks of which any desired number may be arranged in series, one behind the other, are mounted carriages 11 having rollers-12 or similar anti-friction devices to facilitate the movement thereon upon the guides or tracks, and connected with each carriage is a counterbalancing device consisting of a weight 13 or the equivalent thereof, the connecting guard or cable 14c traversing suitably positioned direction pulleys 15 so that either carriage may be brought within easy reach of the mail distributer, and a carriage Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J an. 25, 1921.

carriage, so that a single distributer may be able to place mail matter in either of a plurality of carriages Without inconvenience or loss of time.

Each carriage preferably supports a plurality of racks such as indicated at 16 and shown in detail cross section in Fig. 3 provided with terminal trunnions 17 mounted in frames 18 supported by the carriage.

These racks are reversible upon the terminal trunnions by means of crank arms or handles 19 and are provided at both sides with longitudinal seats 20 for the reception of mail matter, said seats'being overhung at the top and bottom by flanges 21 so that when a letter envelop is placed in front of a seat it may by mere pressure toward the seat be caused to spring at its edges under the flanges where it is held with the name and address exposed. Obviously the reversal of a rack may be accomplished merely by a rapid movement of the crank or handle so as to give access to either side, so that mail for different destinations may be arranged on different sides of the same rack or one side may be exposed after the other has been filled. The racks are yieldingly held in either of the positions exposing the seats or pockets on one side by means of a stud 22 engaged with a spring latch 23. Said latch however is adapted to yield merely by applying suiiicient strength to the crank or handle although adapted to maintain the rack in either of its adjusted positions against displacement by the act of inserting the letter envelops into the seats or pockets. Also preferably while the body portions of the racks are designed for the reception of short or small letter envelops, enlarged receptacles or pockets 20 may be provided at the ends thereof for the reception of longer or legal size envelops.

Also preferably one of the racks is provided with closures 24; fitted with locking means as indicated at 25 and adapted to cover the pockets oI' seats so as to adapt this particular rack for the reception of important mail such as registered letters.

It is furthermore obvious that as a guide to the mail distributing operator suitable designations or indications of destination may be conveniently applied to the several racks as may be found desirable in practice.

What is claimed is: 1. A mail distributing apparatus having hanging flanges, endnieans for holding said racks in their adjusted positions. 7

2- Amen distributing apparatus having a carriage, reversible letter receiving racks mounted upon the carriage in pivotal rela- 10 tion thereto and provided with reversing handles or cranks, and frictionalmeans for holding said racks in their. {LClJllStGCl positions, the StmG.:COIlSlSt1I1g of studs on the racks and spring latches for engaginge the studs, said'rzicks being provided at opposite sides with letter receiving seats or-pockets;

In testimony whereof he affixes his Signature.

ALBERT o. COBB. 

